History of the Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry
The Lord’s Cupboard was established in a closet at First United Methodist Church in 1974. It was open to anyone in need of food assistance three times a week. Members of the church established the program because they recognized the need for food assistance in the community. Over the next thirteen years, the volunteers continued to
see an increased need in the community. The Lord’s Cupboard had grown to something larger than the First United Methodist Church could sustain themselves. In June of 1987, the decision was made to have the Lord’s Cupboard become a ministry of the Interfaith Forum, an ecumenical faith-based organization with representatives from
several Fort Dodge community churches.
Volunteers continued to coordinate the program for 34 years until 2008, when the first paid director was hired to help lead the organization.
In 2019, planning began to expand the Lord’s Cupboard's pantry’s space and hours of operation, and for developing a new business model for the organization. After numerous meetings, it was decided the ministry will become an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will form a new board of directors, will renovate the current building, and move the pantry from the basement to the ground level. All of these changes were designed to improve access for people and families in need of food assistance.
In 2019, Director Joni Ham-Olson began planning and fundraising to move the Lord’s Cupboard out of the basement where it was housed for more than 44 years. The plan was to move the pantry to the main level, creating more storage, easier access and handicap accessibility. This brought about changing their name to The Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry and becoming a 501c3 non-profit organization. Which allowed local businesses to donate directly to their fundraising campaign. Local business, churches and residents raised $275,000 for the renovation and the Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry moved to their new location upstairs at 127 N 10th Street Fort Dodge on April 1, 2021.
Clients were allowed a limited number of visits which have varied throughout the years. In the early years of the Lord’s Cupboard, it operated only on referrals from Upper Des Moines Opportunities, a community action agency in Fort Dodge that helps low-income people and families. Today, the Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry allows clients to receive emergency food assistance once a month.
The Lord’s Cupboard’s Community Pantry’s doors have been open to any person or family in need of emergency food assistance in Webster County. Certain income eligibility guidelines must be met for the USDA and IHHS. They require paperwork to be filled out on location if you qualify by their guidelines, you can receive food assistance. Household size determines how much food is given to each client or family. The Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry staff and volunteers worked with a food nutritionist to create a healthy nutritional selection of food that would feed each person in the household for 4-5 days.
For more than 51 years the Lord’s Cupboard has provided emergency food assistance in Webster County. The number of clients served has changed over the years. In 1987, 504 households and 1,375 people were helped. In 2015 2,676 households and 6,490 people were helped. In 2020, 2,969 households and 6,685 people were helped. In 2024, 6,575 households and 13,861 people were helped. In 2024 we spent an average of $7,000 a month on food we purchased from local grocery stores and through our partnership with the Food Bank of Iowa.
We continue to be supported by First United Methodist Church who gives our pantry a home rent free. We also have local businesses, churches and individuals who provide monetary support to our mission and volunteers who donate their time at the pantry.
As the Lord’s Cupboard Community Pantry moves forward, we see the need in our community changing and growing. We ask for continued support and prayers so we can continue our mission of helping feed our neighbors and friends in need.
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.” ~ Mother Teresa